A nurse is teaching a client who has a new colostomy about how to control odors and flatus.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

Condition: Elder maltreatment 2 actions: Initiate a referral to adult protective services; Administer prescribed pain medication 2 parameters: Frequency and severity of bruises; Nutritional intake and weight

Rationale for correct condition The client’s physical signs (multiple bruises in various stages, unclean appearance), social indicators (dependency, financial control, food insecurity), and behavioral changes in the presence of the caregiver strongly suggest elder abuse. Elder maltreatment includes physical, emotional, financial, and neglectful harm. An 82-year-old with a BMI of 18.3 shows undernutrition. His improved demeanor away from the child reflects psychological coercion. Bruises in different stages may indicate repeated trauma over time.

Rationale for correct actions Referral to adult protective services ensures legal and social intervention and facilitates multidisciplinary evaluation for safety. Reporting is mandated and protects the client from further harm. Administering pain medication addresses acute injury (fracture of right radius) and helps restore comfort. Effective pain management is crucial for mobility and assessment of additional injuries.

Rationale for correct parameters Monitoring bruising patterns helps identify ongoing abuse and quantify recovery or new trauma. Repeated injuries in various healing stages are hallmark signs. Nutritional intake and weight reflect neglect; insufficient food intake leads to weight loss and reduced immune function. Tracking BMI and calorie intake can guide long-term recovery and support.

Rationale for incorrect conditions Osteoporosis-related fracture would more likely occur with minimal trauma and does not explain social neglect or emotional signs. Accidental fall may be plausible but lacks explanation for systemic neglect and coercion. Peripheral neuropathy doesn’t explain acute arm pain or psychosocial signs of neglect.

Rationale for incorrect actions Encouraging activity is inappropriate during acute fracture recovery and potential abuse. Bone density scans assess fragility but don’t address safety risks. Nutritional supplements may help but don’t resolve underlying maltreatment or acute injury.

Rationale for incorrect parameters Bone density is not immediately relevant and doesn't reflect maltreatment. Blood pressure fluctuations are not present and don’t indicate abuse. Grip strength cannot be assessed accurately with an arm fracture and isn't useful for abuse evaluation.

Take-home points • Elder maltreatment includes physical harm, neglect, emotional abuse, and financial exploitation • Victims may show improved responsiveness when abuser is absent • Multidisciplinary intervention via adult protective services is critical • Differentiation from accidental injury ensures proper protection and care

Choice A rationale

Amnioinfusion is the infusion of saline into the amniotic cavity. It is used to treat umbilical cord compression or meconium staining, not to manage seizures. Initiating an amnioinfusion during a seizure would be an inappropriate and ineffective intervention that would not address the underlying physiological cause of eclampsia or the immediate post-seizure recovery.

Choice B rationale

An internal fetal heart monitor is an invasive procedure requiring the rupture of membranes and insertion of a fetal spiral electrode. This is not the priority action following a seizure. Post-seizure priority is maternal stabilization, ensuring a patent airway, and preventing further injury. External fetal monitoring is the standard first-line approach to assess fetal well-being.

Choice C rationale

Calcium gluconate is the antidote for magnesium sulfate toxicity, not a treatment for seizures. Administering calcium gluconate would be inappropriate unless magnesium toxicity (e.g., respiratory depression) is suspected. The primary treatment for eclamptic seizures is magnesium sulfate, which works by depressing the central nervous system and blocking neuromuscular conduction.

Choice D rationale

Placing the client on her side is the priority action following a seizure. This position prevents aspiration of secretions, promotes venous return to the heart, and improves placental perfusion. This is a critical safety measure to protect both the mother and the fetus from further harm and is part of standard post-ictal care. *.